Trump set to make his Supreme Court pick as part of a frenetic Week 2

2017-02-01 13:16:08 by T4N

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Trump set to make his Supreme Court pick as part of a frenetic Week 2 By Jeff Zeleny and Dan Merica, CNN Updated 0031 GMT (0831 HKT) January 30, 2017
Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. JUST WATCHED Trump: Travel ban working out very nicely 01:07 Story highlights Trump previously said his Supreme Court pick would come on Thursday Aides now say they expect it to come sooner Washington Trump has settled on his first Supreme Court nominee and is poised to reveal his selection early this week, two officials say, in an announcement that many inside the White House hope could change the subject from a weekend of thundering criticism over the executive order on immigration. While Trump said last week he would make his choice known on Thursday, aides say they expect it to come sooner. A confirmation team, comprised of senior Republican advisers with deep experience in previous administrations and Capitol Hill, is prepared for an announcement as soon as Monday, but aides cautioned that Trump will make the ultimate decision on timing. "Our world changes constantly but there is a very good chance we are announcing early this week unless (President Trump) changes his mind about who," a senior adviser told CNN. JUST WATCHED Priebus: We apologize for nothing here 02:10 Read More A busy second week in office is ahead for Trump, who aides say is preparing to sign another wave of executive orders, ranging in topics from small business to crime and drugs to financial services. The President is scheduled to attend the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, which is another reason aides say he could accelerate his Supreme Court announcement. He is also planning to travel to Milwaukee on Thursday to deliver an economic address highlighting manufacturing before ending the week at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. But it is the Supreme Court announcement, with Trump nominating a successor to the late Justice Antonin Scalia, which will shape the second week of his presidency. Trump finished with interviews last week, two people close to the process say, and is believed to have narrowed his pick down to three jurists: Neil Gorsuch, who sits on the federal appears court in Denver ; William H. Pryor Jr., who sits on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and Thomas Hardiman of the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. Photos: The week in politics Hameed Khalid Darweesh, left, during a press conference with Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez on Saturday, January 28, at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Darweesh has worked with the US military in Iraq and was granted a visa to come to the US but was detained upon arrival. He was released Saturday afternoon, but many other recent arrivals are still being detained . See the faces of those affected by President Trump's travel ban . Hide Caption 1 of 16 Photos: The week in politics US President Donald Trump signs three executive orders in the White House Oval Office on Monday, January 23. The orders removed the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, enacted a federal-employee hiring freeze and reinstated the "Mexico City policy" on abortion funding. That policy bars international nongovernmental organizations from receiving US government funding if they perform or promote abortions. Hide Caption 2 of 16 Photos: The week in politics Seven activists affiliated with the environmental organization Greenpeace climbed a construction crane near the White House and unfurled a "resist" banner to protest Donald Trump's presidency on Wednesday, January 25. Hide Caption 3 of 16 Photos: The week in politics A border-patrol agent stands near a fence separating Juarez, Mexico, from Sunland Park, New Mexico, on Wednesday, January 25. President Trump has promised to build a border wall between Mexico and the United States. Hide Caption 4 of 16 Photos: The week in politics US Rep. Mick Mulvaney -- Trump's pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget -- testifies during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, January 24. Mulvaney didn't back off his views that entitlement programs need revamping to survive -- and he didn't back away from some of his past statements on the matter. Trump, during his campaign, pledged not to touch Social Security or Medicare. Hide Caption 5 of 16 Photos: The week in politics Business leaders meet with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence at the White House on Monday, January 23. Trump promised the group that he planned to cut corporate taxes "massively" and slash regulations to give companies incentives to stay in the United States. But he also warned them they would face a steep border tax if they take their manufacturing abroad. Hide Caption 6 of 16 Photos: The week in politics Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, is sworn in during her Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, January 24. She has been chosen by Trump to lead the Small Business Administration. Hide Caption 7 of 16 Photos: The week in politics Trump sits at his desk on Air Force One after arriving at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Thursday, January 26. Hide Caption 8 of 16 Photos: The week in politics South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley takes the oath of office as she becomes the US Ambassador to the United Nations on Wednesday, January 25. She was approved with wide bipartisan support, 96-4. See all of Trump's nominees Hide Caption Photos: The week in politics Activists protest as Trump attends a Republican retreat in Philadelphia on Thursday, January 26. Hide Caption 10 of 16 Photos: The week in politics White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer calls on a reporter during the daily briefing at the White House on Wednesday, January 25. Spicer answered questions about immigration, homeland security and other topics. Hide Caption 11 of 16 Photos: The week in politics US Vice President Mike Pence, his wife Karen Pence and their daughter Charlotte Pence arrive for a rally on the National Mall before the start of the 44th annual March for Life , Friday, January 27 in Washington. Hide Caption 12 of 16 Photos: The week in politics Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks at a news conference Wednesday, January 25, where he addressed issues related to the city's murder rate. President Trump has threatened to "send in the Feds" if Chicago "doesn't fix the horrible 'carnage' going on." Emanuel said he welcomed the idea of greater federal assistance. He said federal authorities already play an integral role in fighting crime in the city, referencing the transport of guns across state lines, among other areas. Hide Caption 13 of 16 Photos: The week in politics Trump holds up a letter Sunday, January 22, that was left for him by former President Barack Obama. Hide Caption 14 of 16 Photos: The week in politics Actor and performance artist Shia LaBeouf live-streams his Trump protest in New York on Tuesday, January 24. He was charged with misdemeanor assault and a harassment violation after getting in a scuffle with an anti-Trump protester. Hide Caption Photos: The week in politics Trump walks from the Oval Office to board Marine One on Thursday, January 26. Hide Caption 16 of 16 Hardiman emerged as the leading contender , two people close to the process said, but they cautioned that Trump could still change his mind and deliver a surprise. As he did in his first week, Trump will also use the executive order as his main way to direct policy. Trump signed 14 orders in his first week and sources tell CNN he will sign more this coming week. Trump is expected to sign orders this week that aim to spur small business growth (Monday), step up local crime-fighting and curb the sale of drugs in the United States (Tuesday) and targeted at the financial services industry (Friday). But the scheduling remains fluid -- a fact proven by the fact Trump has yet to sign an executive order initiating an investigation into voter fraud. White House officials promised an order of voter fraud last week, previewing a move that would expand on Trump's interest in the unproven claims he has made since November's election alleging millions of illegal votes were cast, without citing any evidence. That order hasn't come yet, but an official tells CNN that signing the order is on the schedule for the week. CNN's Sara Murray, Elizabeth Landers and Ariane de Vogue contributed to this report. Sections